JP2913202B2 - Lightweight object alignment device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for aligning a group of lightweight objects, and more particularly, to a plurality of lightweight objects (such as a group of lightweight objects) such as aluminum wash cans supplied to the device. ) Are arranged in a line in the apparatus and are discharged.

[Conventional technology]

As shown in FIG. 4, the conventional light object group aligning device (51) has an object storage chamber (X ') for temporarily storing a plurality of supplied light objects (52) before aligning them. , A layout chamber (Y ') for aligning the objects (52) in a single row and sending them out of the discharge port (53); Of the pressure air chamber (Z ').

In the layout room (Y '), the lowermost object layer (52a) of the guide surface (54) sent from the object storage room (X') is
The group of objects (52b) that have been guided from the side wall (55) to the discharge port (53) by the air flow (56) ejected in the transport direction and that have entered from the upper layer of the lowermost object layer (52a) The air is blown back to the storage chamber (X ') by the air flow (58) blown out from the supply opening (57).

In the object storage room (X ′), the air is blown out from the opening (57) above the discharge port (53), and is sent into the object storage room (X ′) through the entrance (59) of the storage room (X ′). The air flow (58) pushes and spreads a large number of objects (52) supplied from the conveyor (60) and the like in the previous process toward the periphery (mainly upward), and the number of objects exceeds the processing capacity of this device (51). The object (52) is prevented from entering the layout chamber (Y ') from the entrance (59).

And objects (52) that are as close as possible within the device (51)
In order to avoid collisions between them, the supply number of the objects (52), the pressure at which the air flows (56), (58) are blown out, and the like were controlled to align the objects in a line.

Such a conventional device (51) is useful in that the use of the air flow (56) (58) allows the lightweight objects (52) to be aligned in a row up to a certain processing speed. Met.

However, as the number of objects to be processed by the device (51) is increased, the following problem occurs.

That is, when the number of objects to be processed is increased, the number of objects (52b) which roll down from the storage room (X ') to the layout room (Y') and intrude in proportion to the rate of increase, thus increasing the layout room. The airflow (58) that intrudes into (Y ′) and blows out from the opening (57) above the outlet (53) toward the storage room (X ′) is about to be blown back into the storage room (X ′). The number of the object (52c) and the number of the object (52b) that is about to invade the layout room (Y ') are not balanced with each other, and the flow of both (52b) and (52c) is in the storage room (X'). Entrance (59)
At the same time, they collided with each other and did not improve the processing ability of the object (52) as expected. Further, there is a tendency that damage is caused by collision between the objects (52).

In such a case, it is no longer possible to cope with the situation simply by controlling the number of supplies of the object (52), the pressure of each air flow (56) (58), and the like.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a light-weight object group aligning apparatus capable of performing smooth processing without damaging the object even if the number of processed objects of the apparatus per unit time, that is, the object processing speed is increased. Is what you do.

[Means for solving the problem]

To achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

That is, the lightweight object group arbitrarily supplied to the object receiving port is aligned in a line in the apparatus, and in the lightweight object group aligning apparatus that continuously discharges from the discharge port, compared to the axial dimension of the object. An object alignment chamber having a guide surface for guiding a group of objects to a downstream side when viewed from a normal flow direction of the objects is provided between the pair of side walls arranged at a slightly large interval, An air flow is sent to the object alignment chamber in a direction opposite to the normal flow direction of the objects in the room, and the objects supplied to the object alignment chamber are pushed upward to the upper part of the object alignment chamber, and these objects, the side walls, and the outlet are opened. An opening for supplying pressurized air to the object alignment chamber so as to form an air layer with the terminal surface having an air gap is provided at the terminal surface of the object alignment chamber, and an air flow for forming the air layer is formed on a side wall. Exhaust holes for exhausting part of the It was.

A pressure air chamber is provided outside the object alignment chamber, and an opening from the pressure air chamber to the object alignment chamber is provided at its end face, and the lowermost object layer of the object alignment chamber is formed by a normal object layer. A driving means for driving the pressure air chamber downstream from the flow direction, the pressure air chamber has a connection means to a compressed air source, and the opening has an upper part of an outlet, and an outlet. It may be provided both above and on the upstream side when viewed from the normal flow direction of the object.

Further, the driving means is a plurality of object driving holes provided near the exhaust port which communicate from the pressure air chamber to the object alignment chamber, and the holes are located near the lowermost object layer and with respect to the lower edge of the side wall. It may be provided substantially side by side, and may be inclined in the direction of normal flow of the object.

The plurality of object driving holes may extend from the vicinity of the exhaust port to the object receiving port along the lower edge of the side wall.

Means may be provided for closing a part of the exhaust hole on the side wall and controlling the amount of air exhausted from the exhaust hole.

Also, a slope is formed obliquely upward from the upper part of the opening on the end surface of the object alignment chamber, and a hole is formed on the slope to communicate with the pressure air chamber and blow out the air flow for pushing back the object obliquely downward. It may be.

A roll may be provided at the front of the discharge port, the roll contacting the object and a part thereof and rotating in the discharge direction.

An upper plate may be provided above the object alignment chamber so that the object does not jump out of the object alignment chamber.

[Action]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, during the operation of the apparatus, the object group is expanded between the pair of side walls by the air flow blown out from the air layer forming air flow blowing opening located at the end face of the object alignment chamber. To form an air layer.

The space formed by the air layer has both functions as a layout room and a function as an object storage room of the conventional device.

In other words, the air layer forms an object layer for temporarily storing a large number of lightweight objects supplied upward, and an object group at an interface between the object layer and the air layer is formed by:
It acts so as to push it toward the periphery so that it does not fall on the upper part of the group of objects that are sent in a line on the guide surface reaching the discharge port.

Assuming that the opening is provided both on the upper side of the outlet and on the upstream side as viewed from the normal flow direction of the object above the outlet, it is pressed so as not to move in the direction of the outlet by the air flow. The object in the upper layer of the lowermost object layer is pushed back by the airflow blown from the lower opening, in particular, and acts so as not to reach the outlet.

The driving means communicates from the pressure air chamber to the object alignment chamber,
A plurality of object driving holes provided in the vicinity of the discharge port, wherein the holes are provided substantially in parallel with the lower edge of the side wall in the vicinity of the lowermost object layer, and the normal flow of the object. , The air flow blown out from these holes acts to drive the lowermost object layer in the vicinity of the outlet of the object group in the direction of the outlet.

Assuming that the plurality of object driving holes extend in the direction of the object receiving port along the lower edge of the side wall from the vicinity of the discharge port, the discharge port is provided to the lowermost object layer from a considerably short distance from the discharge port. An air flow acting in the direction of the arrow acts.

If a part of the exhaust hole in the side wall is closed, and means for controlling the amount of air exhausted from the exhaust hole is provided,
A balance between the air supply amount and the exhaust amount can be obtained in accordance with the object supply amount.

Forming a slope facing obliquely upward from the top of the opening at the end face of the object alignment chamber, communicating with the slope from the pressure air chamber,
Assuming that a hole for blowing the air flow for pushing back the object obliquely downward is provided, the object that reaches the outer edge in the object alignment chamber acts to be pushed back to the center by the air flow.

Assuming that a roll is provided at the front of the discharge port so that the object and a part thereof contact and rotate in the discharge direction,
It functions to reliably discharge the object reaching the front of the discharge port.

If a cover is provided above the object alignment chamber to prevent the object from jumping out of the object alignment chamber, the object will not jump out of the alignment chamber even if the air flow fluctuates.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show a case where the aligning apparatus for a group of lightweight objects according to the present invention is implemented for an aluminum wash can. Although an aluminum wash can is shown in the figure, the invention is not limited to this example and can be implemented as long as it can be transferred by applying an air flow.

First Embodiment In FIG. 1, an apparatus (1) for aligning a group of lightweight objects is supplied from a previous process such as a jet conveyor (2) and sent into the apparatus (1) from an object receiving port (3). An aluminum wash can (4a) is defined by a pair of side walls (5), a guide surface (6), an air flow (8) for forming an air layer (7), an end surface (10) having an opening (9) for blowing out. In a row in the object alignment chamber (X)
It is configured to send out more. The opening (9) and the holes (12) and (13) are connected upstream to a compressed air source (15) (see FIG. 2) via a pressure air chamber (Y) provided outside the side wall (5). This makes it possible to supply an air flow (8).

The pair of side walls (5) are aluminum wash cans (4)
Can move in this gap with a certain degree of freedom without exchanging the long axis and the short axis of the can (4), and leak the air flow from the gap between the can (4) and the side wall (5) as little as possible. It is arranged with a gap slightly larger than the axial dimension of the can (4) (in the figure, the side wall (5) on the near side is separated to clarify the internal structure of the device (1)). State).

A plurality of exhaust holes (16) for exhausting the supplied air flow (8) are provided in the side wall (5) near the air flow (8) blowing opening (9).

The exhaust hole (16) is provided with means (17) for controlling the amount of exhaust. The control means (17) uses a slidable plate-like body capable of closing a part or most of each of the exhaust holes (16).

The side wall (5) facing the can (4b) to be transferred on the guide surface (6) immediately before the exhaust port (11) has an air flow (D) for driving the can (4b) in the transfer direction. A plurality of holes (12) for blowing out 18) are drilled on the left and right sides.

The guide surface (6) is fixed between the pair of side walls (5), and is provided so as to protrude downward near the receiving port (3) of the can (4a) and horizontally at the front of the discharging port (11).

However, it is sufficient if there is no extreme discontinuity or the like on the guide surface (6) at which the movement of the can (4) becomes impossible, so that the shape can be implemented as appropriate, for example, the discharge port (11).
The front part may be inclined obliquely upward to discharge the can (4b) upward. In short, the lowermost can (4) in contact with the guide surface (6) may be sent toward the discharge port (11).

An opening (9) for supplying an air flow (8) is formed in a hollow box-shaped casing (20) having an oblique upper wall (19),
The casing (20) is provided above the outlet (11).

The casing (20) has two sides on both sides so that air can flow in from a pressurized air chamber (Y) installed outside the both sides (5) through an air flow connection opening (21). 5), and an air flow (8) for forming an air layer (7) is supplied to a can (4b) from a blowing opening (9) provided on an end face of the casing (20) facing the object alignment chamber (X). Blows out almost in the direction opposite to the discharge direction.

The upper wall (19) of the casing (20) extending obliquely upward from the upper portion of the opening (9) has a large number of holes for blowing out an air flow (22) for pushing the can (4c) back diagonally downward. (13) is drilled.

However, the hole (13) that blows out diagonally downward is
Although it is not necessary for practicing the present invention, it is necessary for supplying the air flow (22) for pushing back the object (4c) reaching the outer edge of the object alignment chamber (X) to the inside. It is preferable to provide them. If not provided, the shape of the casing (20) may be such that the upper wall (19) is not inclined but horizontal as described above.

As the compressed air source (15) connected to the compressed air chamber (Y), a compressor, a blower or the like can be used.

In front of the discharge port (11), an object discharge roll (24) that is rotated toward the discharge port (11) by driving means such as a motor (23) is provided. This roll (24)
Is covered with a rubber for cushioning impact so as not to damage the can (4).

Next, the operating state of the lightweight object group aligning device (1) according to the present invention will be described.

During operation of this device (1), the compressed air chamber (Y)
A suitable compressed air source (15) (see FIG. 2) is connected to
An air stream is sent into the object alignment chamber (X). This ensures that the opening (9) and the large number of outlets (12) (1)
From 3), an air flow blows out toward the inside of the object alignment chamber (X).

The aluminum wash can (4a) supplied from the receiving port (3) of this device (1) is placed on a guide surface (6) between a pair of side walls (5) such that the side surfaces overlap one another up and down. Sent in.

Then, when a large number of cans (4d) are supplied and accumulate on the guide surface (6), these cans (4d) are also placed near the opening (9) of the end surface (10) of the object alignment chamber (X). Reach. However, since the air flow (8) blows out from the opening (9) in the direction opposite to the discharge direction, the can (4e) in this portion is pressed by the action of the air flow (8) to have a certain spread. A space, that is, an air layer (7) is formed.

Since the air layer (7) forms a storage part having a buffering function for temporarily storing the supplied objects (4a) above the object (4a), a special object storage room is installed in the device (1). do not have to.

An air flow (8) for forming an air layer (7) is partially discharged from an exhaust hole (16) provided in a side wall (5) to a device (1).
It is exhausted outside.

Cans (4) Cans (4a) to be supplied to control the processing speed
In order to balance the quantity of air and the air flow (8) blown out from the opening (9), the amount of air exhausted from the exhaust hole (16) is set to an appropriate amount by the control means (17).

The air layer (7) also serves to align the discharging cans (4b) in a row. That is, since the opening (9) for forming the air layer (7) is provided at the end surface of the object alignment chamber (X), the air flow (8) blown out from the opening (9).
Attempts to push back the upper can (4f) of the can (4b) conveyed toward the discharge port (11) on the guide surface (6) in the direction opposite to the discharge direction. For this reason, the can (4) is the outlet (11)
On the guide surface (6) in the immediately preceding part, the members are not overlapped but arranged in a single column.

Then, the can (4b) having moved to the guide surface (6) immediately before the discharge port (11) has the hole (12) in the side wall (5) opposed thereto.
The outlet (1)
Transported towards 1).

In this embodiment, the can (4b) in the immediately preceding portion is transferred by the air flow (18) from the hole (12) in the side wall (5), but the transfer in this portion is not limited to the air flow, and other transfer methods are used. But it is possible. For example, the guide surface (6) of this portion may be a belt conveyor driven by a motor or the like,
In short, any means that can be moved toward the discharge port (11) is sufficient.

Thus, the can (4b) reaching the discharge port (11) is lightly assisted by the discharge roll (24) provided immediately before the can (4b).
It is discharged to be sent to the next process.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 2 and 3 show another embodiment of the lightweight object group aligning apparatus according to the present invention. Differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

In this embodiment, two openings (9a) and (9b) are provided above the discharge port (11) in FIG. One opening (9a) is directly above the discharge port (11), and another opening (9b) is upstream from the flow direction of the object (4) and above the opening (9a) from the vertical direction. Is located in
These two openings are set up in two steps in a stepped manner.

The direction in which the air flows (8a) and (8b) blow out from the openings (9a) and (9b) is opposite to the direction in which the object (4b) flows in the discharge direction, as in the first embodiment.

The casing (20) provided with these openings (9a) and (9b) has a lower surface formed in a stepped shape, and both sides have a pressurized air chamber () outside the side wall (5) as in the first embodiment. Y)
And the air flow are movably connected to allow the air flow supplied from the compressed air source (15) to pass therethrough.

An upper plate (25) is provided on the upper surface of the device (1) on the same plane as the receiving port (3). The upper plate (25) is for preventing the can (4) from jumping out of the device (1) to the outside, and is not necessarily essential for practicing the present invention, but is preferably provided.

Another difference from the first embodiment lies in the installation area of a large number of holes (12a) (12b) opened from the pressurized air chamber (Y) provided along the guide surface (6) to the object alignment chamber (X). It is.

In the first embodiment, the hole (12a) is provided only in the portion immediately before the discharge port (11), but in this embodiment, the hole (12a) is further extended along the guide surface (6) toward the receiving port (3). I have.

Operating state of the device The basic operating state is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore the differences will be mainly described.

2 and 3, the lowermost object (4g) guided on the guide surface (6) of the group of objects (4) further extends along the guide surface (6) to the receiving port (3). The air flow (18b) blown out from a number of holes (12b) opening from the pressurized air chamber (Y) to the object alignment chamber (X), extending in the direction, exhausts the air layer (7) before reaching the lower part. It is driven toward the exit (11). That is, the can (4
g) starts to be driven towards the outlet (11).

Next, of the two openings (9a) and (9b), the upper opening (9
The air layer (7) is formed as in the first embodiment by the air flow (8b) blown out from b).

The upper can (4f) of the can (4b) transferred toward the discharge port (11) on the guide surface (6) by the air flow (8a) blown out from the lower opening (9a) is transferred as described above. It is kept from falling to the top of the incoming can (4b).

Therefore, if the pressure of the air flow (9a) (9b) fluctuates for some reason and the upper can (4f) collapses on the transferred can (4b), the discharge port (11 ), The air flow (8a) from the opening (9a) allows the air to be pushed back more reliably than in the first embodiment.

〔The invention's effect〕

The present invention has the above-described configuration, and the air layer is sent by aligning a group of objects on the boundary surface between the object layer and the air layer in a line on the guide surface reaching the discharge port. The objects are pushed out toward the surroundings so that they do not fall to the upper part of the moving object group, so that the objects do not fly around in the alignment room, so that even if the object processing speed is increased, collision between objects can be avoided, and these damages And smooth processing can be performed.

In addition, since it is not necessary to separately configure the layout chamber and the object alignment chamber, the apparatus itself can be compactly integrated.

Assuming that the opening is provided both on the upper side of the outlet and on the upstream side when viewed from the normal flow direction of the object above the outlet, the airflow is pressed so as not to come in the direction of the outlet. The object in the upper layer of the lowermost object layer is pushed back by the airflow blown from the opening above the outlet, and does not reach the outlet, so that the processing speed can be further improved.

The driving means communicates from the pressure air chamber to the object alignment chamber,
A plurality of object driving holes provided in the vicinity of the discharge port, wherein the holes are provided substantially in parallel with the lower edge of the side wall in the vicinity of the lowermost object layer, and the normal flow of the object. If it is inclined in the direction of, the airflow blown out from these holes can drive the lowermost object layer of the group of objects in the vicinity of the discharge port in the direction of the discharge port.・ Can be transferred without using a special drive system such as a conveyor.

Assuming that the plurality of object driving holes extend in the direction of the object receiving port along the lower edge of the side wall from the vicinity of the discharge port, the discharge port is provided to the lowermost object layer from a considerably short distance from the discharge port. Therefore, the processing speed can be further improved.

If a part of the exhaust hole in the side wall is closed, and means for controlling the amount of air exhausted from the exhaust hole is provided,
Since the supply amount of air and the exhaust amount can be balanced in accordance with the supply amount of the object, when the supply amount of the object increases, the control means can set an appropriate exhaust amount according to the increase. it can.

Forming a slope facing obliquely upward from the top of the opening at the end face of the object alignment chamber, communicating with the slope from the pressure air chamber,
If an object push-back hole that blows out the air flow obliquely downward is provided, the object that reaches the outer edge in the object alignment chamber is pushed back to the center by this air flow and surely goes to the discharge port. It is sent and can contribute to the improvement of the processing speed.

Assuming that a roll is provided at the front of the discharge port so that the object and a part thereof contact and rotate in the discharge direction,
Objects that reach the front of the outlet can be reliably discharged,
The processing can be facilitated without the object being clogged at the discharge port.

If a cover is provided above the object alignment chamber to prevent the object from jumping out of the object alignment chamber, even if the air flow fluctuates, it will not jump out of the alignment chamber and the processing will be smooth. It is possible to contribute to the realization.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a configuration and an operation state of an embodiment of a lightweight object group aligning apparatus according to the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 show another embodiment of the apparatus for aligning lightweight objects according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing the structure of the apparatus, and FIG. The whole perspective view showing a state. FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view showing an example of a configuration and an operating state of a conventional lightweight object group alignment device. (1) ... device, (3) ... object receiving port (4) ... object, (5) ... side wall, (6) ... guide surface,
(7) ... air layer, (8) ... air flow (9) (9a) (9b) ... opening (10) ... terminal surface, (11) ... outlet (12) ... object drive Hole, (13) ... Hole (15) ... Compressed air source, (16) ... Exhaust hole (17) ... Control means, (19) ... Slope (22) ... Air flow, (24) ... ... Roll (25) ... Upper plate, (X) ... Object alignment chamber (Y) ... Pressure air chamber

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] An apparatus for aligning a group of lightweight objects arbitrarily supplied to an object receiving port in a line in an apparatus and continuously discharging the group from a discharge port. An object alignment chamber having a guide surface for guiding an object group to a downstream side when viewed from a normal flow direction of the object is provided between the pair of side walls arranged at a slightly larger interval than the pair of side walls, An air flow is sent to the object alignment chamber in a direction opposite to the normal flow direction of the objects in the object alignment chamber, and the objects supplied to the object alignment chamber are pushed upward to expand the object group above the object alignment chamber, and these object groups, both side walls An opening for supplying compressed air to the object alignment chamber so as to form an air layer with a terminal surface having an outlet is provided in the terminal surface of the object alignment chamber, and a side wall for forming the air layer is provided. Exhaust holes are provided to exhaust part of the airflow Alignment apparatus lightweight object group, wherein the door. 2. A pressure air chamber is provided outside the object alignment chamber, and an opening from the pressure air chamber to the object alignment chamber is provided at a terminal end face thereof, and a lowermost object layer of the object alignment chamber is provided. Has a drive means for driving the object downstream from the normal flow direction of the object, the pressure air chamber has connection means to a compressed air source, and the opening has a discharge port. 2. The light-weight object group alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the light-weight object group alignment device is provided on both the upper portion and the upper side of the discharge port and the upstream side as viewed from the normal flow direction of the object. 3. A plurality of object driving holes provided in the vicinity of an exhaust port, wherein the driving means communicates from the pressure air chamber to the object alignment chamber, and the holes are lower edges of the side wall near the lowermost object layer. 3. The light-weight object group aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the light-weight object group aligning device is provided substantially in parallel with each other, and is inclined in a normal flow direction of the object. 4. The arrangement of a group of lightweight objects according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of object driving holes extend from the vicinity of the exhaust port along the lower edge of the side wall toward the object receiving port. apparatus. 5. The arrangement of a group of lightweight objects according to claim 1, further comprising means for closing a part of the exhaust hole in the side wall and controlling an amount of air exhausted from the exhaust hole. apparatus. 6. A slope which is formed obliquely upward from the upper end of the opening on the end face of the object alignment chamber, and has a hole which communicates with the pressurized air chamber and blows out an air flow for pushing back the object obliquely downward. 6. A device for aligning a group of lightweight objects according to claim 1, wherein the device is provided. 7. An arrangement of a group of lightweight objects according to claim 1, wherein a roll is provided at a front portion of the discharge port, the roll contacting the object and a part thereof and rotating in a discharge direction. apparatus. 8. A lightweight object group aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upper plate is provided above the object aligning chamber so that the object does not jump out of the object aligning chamber.